Chikkamagaluru: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committe (KPCC) Women’s Wing Vice-President Rekha Huliyappa Gowda criticised the MLAs who are trying to close the Basavanahalli Lake in the name of beautification, cut down the Horticulture Department and cut down trees and make it a District Complex.
“As many as 1350 trees of different species in the Horticulture Department at Dantaramakki are being cut down to build the District Complex. Sapota, Mango, Coconut, Jackfruit, Amla and many other species of trees have been planted here for decades to get transplanted saplings. Is it possible to make such a field again at the moment?,” she asked.
“Earlier, work was also done at a cost of Rs. 5 Crore by identifying land for the construction of a District Complex on Kuruvangi Road. The farmers who were given land approached the Court. While demarcating the site, the MLA asked if the officials were not aware of the possible problem and the issue could have been resolved by discussing it with the farmers. However, instead of doing so, they are going to destroy the plantations of the Horticulture department, which was the lifeline of the farmers, she said.
She alleged that the move was an injustice done by the MLAs to the farmers who voted.
The Horticulture Department has been verbally promised an alternative site near Indavar, which has not been implemented. A decision should be taken in the Zilla Panchayat to hand over the existing Horticulture Department. He urged the Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer to clarify what process has been taken in this regard.
“How many trees have been planted in the last 20 years and what is their contribution to the survival of nature?,” he asked.
